Diversity Recruiting Support
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer Partner Engagement Opportunities
We are committed to engaging in the ongoing education of ourselves and others, disrupting biases and inequitable systems, and amplifying impact through our partnerships with students, alumni, and employers in hiring, programming, and services. It is our goal to continue expanding our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work to support all our constituents in achieving their goals and a more just society. This is our call to action.
DEI Best Practice Guide The information and ideas offered in this document are universal with regards to addressing workplace diversity, equity and inclusion challenges. They are some but not all the strategies that help organizations source diverse talent.
Through our diversity recruitment initiatives and support programs, we assist our students in finding co-op, internship, and full-time employment with organizations that value diversity. Our office has developed strong partnerships and working relationships with the various University offices and organizations supporting diverse learners, including:
- Asian American Center
- Center for Intercultural Engagement
- John D. O’Bryant African American Center
- Latinx Student Cultural Center
- Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
- Social Justice Resource Center
- LGBTQA Resource Center
- Disability Resource Center
- Office of Global Services
- Global Student Success
- Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service
Branding Opportunities – target historically underrepresented students with special programming, networking events, and presentations, as well as participation in University-wide targeted events and programs.
Recruiting – encourage underrepresented candidates through job postings, sourcing communications, and recruiting events that highlight your organizational commitments to and activities in support of diverse employees and on behalf of local communities and organizations.
Financial Support and Sponsorships – provide sponsorships to student clubs and organizations, diversity scholarship programs, and University programs focused on diversity.
Popular Engagement Opportunities
B.L.A.C.K. and L.A.T.I.N.X. Virtual Career Expo
Held twice each year in October and March, the B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Accessing Consciousness through Knowledge) and L.A.T.I.N.X. (Latinx Accessing Their Intellect through Networking and Exchange) is a professional immersion experience of panel discussions, networking opportunities, and information sessions to connect learners to hiring opportunities with top employer partners.
Offered in both the fall and spring, these University-wide events are open to all students and provide a robust opportunity to recruit co-op students and entry-level talent at the undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD levels. Many employer partners schedule pre-fair branding and networking programs targeting specific populations of interest.
Reach (Out) LGBTQA+ Career Conference
Offered annually, this event focuses on the perspectives and concerns of queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, intersex, and asexual students relative to employment and professional life. Students interact with alumni, professionals, and corporate representatives on topics such as navigating microaggressions, corporate culture, and gender presentation.
Align Corporate Partners Program
Corporate partners are an essential support resource for students of the Align Master’s Program, which is designed to close the diversity gap in the tech field by enabling more women and diverse students to pursue a career in technology.
Introduce targeted students to your company culture and opportunities via Husky Trek virtual tours.
Diversity Clubs and Organizations
Northeastern offers a wide variety of clubs and organizations providing opportunities and support for our marginalized student populations. We can work with you to engage with these organizations in supporting your targeted outreach, as well as their programming and fundraising efforts.
BESS: Black Engineering Student Society
The BESS mission is to form a network for and solidarity among student engineers, building a support system for engineers to ensure that they would stay in the field.
GWISE: Graduate Women in Science and Engineering
GWISE is a group of graduate students and postdocs designed to assist in the professional and personal advancement of women in science and engineering at Northeastern University.
Enabling Engineering is a Northeastern University student-led group that designs and builds devices to empower individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.
EWB: Engineers Without Borders, NU Student Chapter
Since our establishment in 2004, EWB-USA NEU has designed and constructed water projects in eight communities in Honduras, Uganda, and Panama, affecting over 2,000 individuals.
NU SHPE: Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, NU Student Chapter
The Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, Northeastern University Chapter (NU SHPE) is a professional organization whose goal is to enable Latinos in the New England area (including MA, ME, NH, VT, and RI) to pursue, obtain and develop successful careers with top research and development, high-tech (i.e., hardware, software, and IT services), and other organizations.
NU-SASE: Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, NU Student Chapter
The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) was founded in November 2007 to help Asian heritage scientific and engineering professionals achieve their full potential.
oSTEM is an organization that fosters leadership for LGBTQIA+ communities within STEM fields.
SWE: Society of Women Engineers, NU Student Chapter
SWE was established to have fun and promote women in engineering!
Black Business Oriented Student Society (BBOSS)
The Northeastern Black Business Oriented Student Society (BBOSS) is a student organization at Northeastern University geared towards developing, empowering, and enhancing the business minds of its members through workshops, networking events, speaker sessions, and other programming.
Out in Business is a professional development affinity group in the D’Amore-McKim School of Business focused on LGBTQA topics. Our initiatives are to provide those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and our allies with a safe space in the business school to socialize and network, to organize professional development workshops, to connect with the LGBTQA+ professional community in the greater Boston area, and much more.
Smart Woman Securities (SWS) is a national organization whose mission is to educate undergraduate women on finance and investments. Through educational seminars, mentoring initiatives, and exposure to successful professionals and businesses, SWS provides the guidance and resources upon which women can build greater knowledge of the financial industry.
Girls Who Code (GWC) is a national nonprofit that strives to close the gender gap in the field of technology. The program allows female undergraduates to teach coding skills, project planning, and management to girls in the GWC clubs. The clubs are complementary programs for 6-12th grade girls to use computer science to impact their community and join a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models.
NU Grad Women Coders (GWC) aims to create a conducive environment for women in tech to help each other further their ambitions and take on leadership roles in the tech world. GWC hosts weekly tech sessions by members of the community or inspiring external guests.
Girls Who Code Northeastern University College Loop
Girls Who Code College Loop (GWC CL) is a university-level network for college-aged women interested in tech to support one another and help each other succeed in the field. College Loops build belonging and community through weekly meetings during the school year. Members have access to nearly 100 corporate companies, regional events, and other GWC programs.
Khoury PhD Women is a networking group for female-identifying PhD students at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences. Members of Khoury PhD Women have a platform to network, discuss special interest topics, and engage in a neutral and safe social space.
Multi-Diverse Unified Leaders in the Technology Industry (MULTI)
Northeastern’s Multi-Diverse Unified Leaders in the Technology Industry (MULTI) promotes diversity and inclusion in the technology field to uplift and empower students from all backgrounds pursuing a career in the industry. MULTI members are part of an inclusive learning community attending group discussions, career talks, and workshops.
Northeastern University Women in CyberSecurity
Northeastern University’s chapter of Women in CyberSecurity (NU WiCyS) brings a large-scale organization with national outreach to the Northeastern community. Members of WiCyS are part of a club that is dedicated to bringing together female leaders in cybersecurity to share their research, industry, and academic knowledge. NU WiCyS offers the opportunity to attend networking events, meaningful seminars, and acquire skills through mentoring.
Northeastern University’s Women in Technology (nuWIT)
Northeastern University’s Women in Technology (nuWIT) fosters a diverse community of women interested in computer and information science who support and encourage each other to reach their full potential. Members engage in community outreach, networking, and an exploration of the technology field. nuWIT sponsors events such as the Computer Science Women’s Welcome Dinner and Grace Hopper trip. Members participate in regularly-held employer talks, alumni and research panels, workshops, interview preparation seminars, and study abroad information sessions.
Northeastern Black Student Association (NBSA)
The Northeastern Black Student Association serves as a medium between black students at large and officials of higher authority at Northeastern University. NBSA seeks to establish a dominant presence both on campus and in the surrounding community as an organization focused on the political, historical, and socio-cultural well-being of Black students.
Diversity Recruiting Best Practices
We can help you craft a specific strategy that best meets your organizational goals and interests since there is no “one size fits all” approach to diversity recruiting. A useful primer on best practices articulated the following broad considerations:
- Set clear goals before you begin
- Start as early as possible
- Don’t underestimate the importance of your job descriptions
- Standardize the hiring process and train interviewers
- Grow your funnel
- Watch out for unconscious bias
- Make sure you consider a diverse slate of candidates for every role
- Test different initiatives
- Don’t get too caught up with the qualifications
- Cast a wide net
- If you want diverse candidates, start with a diverse hiring committee
- Collaboration is key
- Think short-term and long-term